Broiler



5. SINGER Aug e Tl, 1956) BROILER Filed April 16, 1946 R we MW f N m5 W 4 r 0/ m A V B Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

BROILER Samuel Singer, San Francisco, Calif.

Application April 16, 1946, Serial No. 662,503

3 Claims.

' The present invention relates to improvements in broilers, and is a further development of the broiler described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 594,974, filed May 21, 1945, which matured as Patent No. 2,465,611.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a convenient arrangement whereby a plurality of objects to be broiled are guided around a heater in an endless chain and each of the objects is rotated about its own axis so as to progressively expose the entire surface of the object to the source of heat and to insure uniform broiling of the object.

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing around the space in which the objects travel to serve as a heat-retaining means and also to reflect heat rays back upon the objects for insuring greater economy in the use of the heat.

It is still further proposed to provide certain structural arrangements for carrying out the above objects and made to combine the features of the invention into a compact, portable attractive unit, which can be manufactured at comparatively small expense. I

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel and useful features of my broiler will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred forms of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of my broiler, with part of a top cover removed to disclose the interior;

Figure 2, a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4, a sectional detail View taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

.Figure 5, a sectional detail view taken alon line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6, a Wiring diagram; and

Figure '7, a detail view showing a modified heater.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my broiler, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my broiler comprises in its principal features, an annular base I, a housing 2 resting thereon, a shaft 3 supported centrally in the housing, a series of heaters 4 surrounding the shaft, a disc 5 mounted on the shaft above the heaters, an annular series of hooks 6 suspended from the disc, and co-operative means on the hooks and the housing, in-

2 eluding a gear wheel 1 for rotating the hooks on their own axes as the disc revolves.

The base I is preferably cylindrical in shape, and has a conical apron or drip pan 8 suspended from the upper edge thereof, the drip pan carrying a central hub 9 and having an aperture l0 near the hub for discharge of drippings into a suitably disposed vessel In which may be inserted and removed through an opening I l in the wall of the base.

The housing 2 is also preferably cylindrical in form, of the same diameter as the base, and com: prises a series of vertical posts I2, four, in the instance shown, and a similar series of panels l3 mounted in the posts with freedom of vertical sliding movement, the posts being made H- shaped in cross section to provide opposing grooves l4 in which the edges of the panels are free to slide.

The panels are suitably made of glass or sim-' ilar transparent material to allow operators and customers to view the fowls or meats and the progress of the broiling process.

The panels are provided with knobs l5 by means of which they may be conveniently lifted, and the knobs are secured by means of screws 16 with internally projecting heads which can be made to pass the edge of the disc 5 when the panel is moved manually, but offers sufiicient resistance to passing by gravity only for holding the panel in raised position.

Each set of opposing posts l2 has a cross-plate ll secured thereon by means of screws or otherwise, the cross-plates terminating in tongues I8 of reduced width to clear the grooves in the posts, and the two plates crossing each other at the center of the housing.

The gear wheel I is secured below the cross plates, by means of pins l9, to form a unit therewith and to occupy a concentric position in the housing.

The shaft 3 extends centrally through the base and the housing, and is supported on a bottom bearing 20, while its upper end is revolvable in the fixed gear wheel 1 and the cross-plates II.

It is driven by the motor 2| disposed in the base, through gearing 22 or otherwise, and it carries, immediately under the fixed gearing l, a disc 5 having an annular series of hooks 6 suspended therefrom.

Each hook 6 is threaded into a pinion 23 having a shoulder 24 riding on the disc and a neck 25 revolvable in the hole in the disc, and the hook is formed with a collar 26 adapted to bear against the underface of the disc for holding the pinion in place.

The pinions 23 are arranged in-annular series about the fixed gear 1 so as to mesh therewith, whereby each of the pinions and the hook suspended therefrom is made to rotate about its Own axis, as the hooks revolve about the axis of shaft 3.

The objects to be broiled, such as fowl or barbecue steak, are suspended from the hooks 6 so as to hang -opposite "therheater 4 and are thus revolved about the heater, while each is also rotated about its own axis.

The heater 4 is preferably made in the form of a plurality of vertically disposed, elongated heat units 30 grouped around the shaft 3, and supported, at their lower ends, in sockets 31 carried by the hub 9, the upper ends beingsteadied by a cap 32 which is slidable on the shaft and has the hub and supported in the base and in the cross-members, a gear wheel fixedly suspended from one of the cross-members in concentric relation to the shaft, heating means arranged around the shaft below the gear wheel, a disc supported on the shaft'a-bove the heating means and below the gear Wheel and having an annular series of hooks rotatably suspended therefrom,

, shaft.

a registering number of sockets 33 adapted to receive the upper ends of the heat units.

,Iherheat units may thus be readily replaced by lifting the capand inserting a new one, The heater is preferably surrounded by a wire screen 34,, which may be constructed in twosemi-cylindrical sections with a hinged connection between the same. This screen servesto diffuse the heat and to cause the sameto emanate uniformly from the entire screen area.

-A simple Wiring diagram is illustrated in Figure 6 for the motor and the heating units, from whichit appears'that the .motor is controlled by a switchtl, and'each heat unit b a separate switch -35which allows the operator to turn on as many .heat units .as he desires for a certain operation. c v

A topplate 35 of thin, elastic material is disposed above the cross-.plates I7 to fitinto the cylindrical housingandis suitably notched, as at 31, to allow for the joints between the crossplates and the posts [2. lnopera'tiomfor loading the broiler, one of thepanels i3 is lifted and the hooks are brought opposite the opening thus created successively by successive operation of the switch 34. The objects tobebro'i'led are suspended from the books as theyappear opposite the opening.

EUpon completion of the loading operation, the desired number of heat units are energized by operation .of the switches 35,.and the motor is set. in operation, Theobjects to be broiled then revolve about the heater, each object also turningonits own .axis.

The heat emanatingfrom the screen about the heater strikes the objects directly,'but it is also reflected by the housing to heat the objects from allsides substantial .un'iformity. If one of the pieces is finished ahead of theothers, it may be brought opposite the panel used for a .gate and removed tobe replaced'byanother one.

Figure 7 :shows a modified form of heating unit 40 in the form of a gas heater. This mayconsist of :an elongated tube with numerous per-forations or .jets 4| adapted for accommodation in the sockets '3! and fed by agasl-l'ine 42 equipped with. suitable controls.

IFor diffusing the flames issuing from the heater, I provide a perforated .sleeve 33 constructed of ceramic material, which will turn to a red heat under .theinfluence ofthe gas flames.

I claim:

11.. Ina broiler of the character described,-an integral .basestructure comprising --a cylindrical member, a shallow drip pan suspended from the upper edge thereof, and-a hub risingaxially from the drip pan, opposing posts-mounted on the upper edge of the cylindrical member and having panels .slidably mounted therebetween, crossmembers connecting the upper ends of opposing posts, a single shaft extending axially through '2. In a broiler of the character described, an integral base structure comprising a cylindrical member, a shallow drip pan suspended from the upper ed e thereof, and a-hub rising axially from the drip -pan,opposing posts mounted on the upper edge of the. cylindrical member and having panels slidably mounted therebetween, crossmembers connecting the upper ends of opposing posts, a single shaft extending axially through the hub and supported in the base and in the cross-members, a gear wheel fixedly suspended from one of thecrossemembers in concentric.-.re lation to the shaft, heating means arranged around the shaft below the .gear wheel, a disc supported on the shaft above the heating means and below the gear wheel and-having an annular series of hooks rotatably suspended therefrom, pinions on the hooks and meshing with the gear wheel for rotating-the hooks-when the disc is revolved, and means in the/base for revolving the shaft, the heating means comprising an annular series of heating elements positioned on menus andaa capslidable on the shaft and having means for positioning the upper ends of the heaters.

3. Ina broiler of the character described, an integral base structure comprising-a cylindrical member, a shallow drip pan suspended from the upper edge thereof, and a hub rising axially from the drip pan, opposing posts mounted on the upper edge of the cylindrical member and having panels slidably mounted therebetween, crossmembers connecting the upper ends of opposing posts, a single shaft extending axially through the hub and supported in the base and in the cross;

members, a gearwheel fixedly suspended .from one of the cross-members in concentric relation to the shaft, heating means arranged around the shaft below the gear wheel, a disc supported on the shaft abovetheheating means and belowthe gear wheel and having an annularseries of hooks rotatably suspended (therefrom, pinions on .the hooks and meshing with the gear Wheel for rotating the hooks when the disc is revolved, and means in the base for revolving the shaft, the panels being liftablebetween the posts and hav ing automatically operating means cooperable with the disc for supporting thep'anels. inraised position.

SAMUEL SINGER.

REFERENGES "CITED The following references are of record in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Blier Jan. 6, 

